In the World, Not of the World

I was originally going to write this post from the perspective of being in church and around the Lord but not being filled and changed or consumed by Him, much as the log in the photo merely has the flame licking around it but is not penetrated by it. However, this is taking a different turn.

I was thinking about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Daniel chapter 3 in the Bible and how they were bound and fell into the flames of the fiery furnace even as their attendants who were supposed to throw them in perished simply from the heat emanating from the furnace. They were in the government circles of that day but unchanged in their principles even when they knew that God was able to save them from the flame but did not know whether or not he would.

They didn’t bow to a literal idol nor bend to the will of a king. They didn’t do whatever it took to fit in or be promoted. They stood firm and saw the salvation of the Lord as He met with them in the fire, rescuing them from the binding restraints of the world. They came through unscathed and unscented by the fire or smoke. Their faith and testimony caused the king to worship the true God.